The student pilot told investigators that the purpose of the solo flight was for him to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings.
After a normal takeoff from the airport in Rawlins, Wyoming, he configured the Zenith Zodiac CH601 on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern with the engine operating at 1,700 rpm and a descent rate of approximately 500 ft/min while maintaining an airspeed of about 75 knots.
He noticed the precision approach position indicator (PAPI) lights showed three white and one red, indicating he was slightly high on the approach path. In response, he maneuvered the airplane in a more nose-up attitude.
As he proceeded on the final approach path, the plane hit powerlines that were oriented perpendicular to the runway and about 300 feet from the threshold.
The nose dropped and he attempted to flare. The main landing gear touched down short of the runway threshold and then the nose gear settled into soft mud. The airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The plane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder, while the student pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an unstabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway and coming to rest inverted
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This March 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Are the proper use of pitch for speed and power for slope not taught before sending students solo ? It is absolutely fundamental to landing ! ! ! !
I want to know how he got out of the plane? A problem with all tip up canopy aircraft. Was he trapped till they lifted the tail up? Did he bust out the side? Thank god it didn’t catch fire…
Per NTSB report – Method of Exit – “One occupant in aircraft. local fire rescue jacked up the aircraft and I slid out of cockpit.”
I wonder if the powerlines had orange marker balls installed.
None on the street view image captured 2 years 4 months before the accident.
He used the papi to recognize he was high (3 white). At the powerlines, he would have seen 4 red. Did he get distracted? No explanation in his report.
Perpendicular power lines ?? I have seen horizontal & inclined ones but perpendicular ones ? NEVER. No wonder the pilot had avoiding them on finals.
The power lines are along the streets bordering the airport, about 300 ft from the threshold. The a/c should be about 60 ft agl, enough to clear 30-40 ft power lines.
But, the power lines are not on the chart or airport info.
Not sure why you find “oriented perpendicular to the runway” a controversial statement. The author was describing the fact the powerlines were crossing the approach path of the landing aircraft.
Perpendicular to the RUNWAY (as opposed to parallel)…meaning they ran in front of one end of the runway.